zhāng hào bō kǔ xiào ， zhèng yù shuō xiē shén me ， què dǒu rán zhǐ zhù 。
张浩波苦笑，正欲说些什么，却陡然止住。
Zhang Haobo smiled bitterly and was about to say something when he suddenly stopped.
piàn kè zhī hòu ， fù yòu chū shēng xún wèn ：“ hái bù zhī dào yǒu míng huì ？ jīn rì jiù mìng zhī ēn ， zhāng mǒu shí bù gǎn wàng 。 rì hòu bì yǒu hòu bào ！”
片刻之后，复又出声询问：“还不知道友名讳？今日救命之恩，张某实不敢忘。日后必有厚报！”
A moment later, he spoke again: "Still don't know your name. I can't forget the life-saving favor you did for me today. There will surely be a great reward in return!"
lǐ fán xiào ér bù dá ， zhǐ shì gǒng le gǒng shǒu ：“ rì hòu yǒu yuán ， zì huì zhī xiǎo 。”
李凡笑而不答，只是拱了拱手：“日后有缘，自会知晓。”
Li Fan smiled but didn't answer. He merely bowed slightly: "If we meet again, you'll know."
“ zán men hòu huì yǒu qī ！”
“咱们后会有期！”
"See you later!"
wèi shuō bà ， shēn xíng biàn huà zuò yī dào xì xiàn ， yuǎn dùn ér zǒu 。
未说罢，身形便化作一道细线，远遁而走。
Before he could finish speaking, his figure turned into a thin line and disappeared far away.
zhǐ zhǎ yǎn jiān ， jiù xiāo shī zài zhāng hào bō de shì yě zhōng 。
只眨眼间，就消失在张浩波的视野中。
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from Zhang Haobo's sight.
zhāng hào bō yǎn shén wēi mī ：“ hǎo kuài de sù dù 。 nà bù zhī míng shén tōng yě shì lì hài de jǐn ， jū rán néng ràng wǒ sī háo méi yǒu fǎn kàng zhī lì 。 shén shén mì mì ， yě bù zhī dào dǐ shì hé shēn fèn 。”
张浩波眼神微眯：“好快的速度。那不知名神通也是厉害的紧，居然能让我丝毫没有反抗之力。神神秘秘，也不知到底是何身份。”
Zhang Haobo narrowed his eyes: "Such a fast speed. That unknown divine technique is also formidable; it even left me with no resistance at all. Mysterious and secretive, I wonder what identity he truly has."
guò le huì ， tā yòu tàn le kǒu qì ， xīn zhōng xiǎng dào ：“ kě xī ， jiù suàn tā bù guǎn yǒu duō shǎo mì mì ， dōu méi shén me qū bié 。”
过了会，他又叹了口气，心中想道：“可惜，就算他不管有多少秘密，都没什么区别。”
After a while, he sighed and thought to himself: "Too bad, even if he has many secrets, it makes no difference."
zhāng hào bō yǎng tóu wàng xiàng tiān kōng ：“ tiān dì zǎo yǐ bù xià shā jī 。 cóng yún hǎi zhōng de yún yún zhòng shēng ， bù lùn xiū wèi gāo yǔ dī ， bù lùn dé yì yǔ shī yì 。 zǎo yǐ zhù dìng nán táo yī sǐ 。”
张浩波仰头望向天空：“天地早已布下杀机。丛云海中的芸芸众生，不论修为高与低，不论得意与失意。早已注定难逃一死。”
Zhang Haobo looked up at the sky: "The heavens have long set traps for us. The countless lives in Cunyun Sea, regardless of their cultivation level or whether they are triumphant or defeated, are already destined to die."
“ nà dào fén hǎi de chì sè shēn yǐng ……
“那道焚海的赤色身影……
"That crimson figure that burned the sea...
“ huà shén xiū shì biàn yǐ rú cǐ lì hài ， zhēn de néng dǎ bài tā me ”
“化神修士便已如此厉害，真的能打败祂么”
"Even a divine transformation cultivator is so powerful; can it really defeat Him?"
zhāng hào bō xiàn rù le mí wǎng zhī zhōng 。
张浩波陷入了迷惘之中。
Zhang Haobo fell into confusion.
bù guò ， piàn kè zhī hòu ， tā de yǎn shén zhú jiàn biàn dé jiān dìng 。
不过，片刻之后，他的眼神逐渐变得坚定。
However, after a moment, his gaze became more resolute.
“ bù guǎn zěn yàng ， wǒ dōu yào jìn quán lì qù zǔ zhǐ tā 。”
“不管怎样，我都要尽全力去阻止祂。”
"No matter what, I must do my utmost to stop Him."
shēn shàng de qì xī chóng xīn biàn dé níng shí ， tā zuì hòu zài kàn le yī yǎn zhè chù fèi xū zhī dì ， fēi shēn lí kāi 。
身上的气息重新变得凝实，他最后再看了一眼这处废墟之地，飞身离开。
His aura reformed and solidified. He took one last look at the ruins before flying away.
zhāng hào bō lí kāi hòu bù jiǔ ， lǐ fán yǐn cáng de shēn yǐng shū hū fú xiàn 。
张浩波离开后不久，李凡隐藏的身影疏忽浮现。
Not long after Zhang Haobo left, Li Fan's hidden figure suddenly appeared again.
“ kàn lái dǎo shì méi yǒu yīn cǐ sàng shī dòu zhì ， shì wǒ guò fèn xiǎo xīn le 。” lǐ fán diǎn diǎn tóu 。
“看来倒是没有因此丧失斗志，是我过分小心了。”李凡点点头。
"It seems he didn't lose his resolve because of this; I was too cautious." Li Fan nodded.
xiǎng le xiǎng ， tā yòu xiǎo xīn yì yì dì fǎn huí le yuán běn tiān yáng dòng fǔ de suǒ zài dì 。
想了想，他又小心翼翼地返回了原本天阳洞府的所在地。
After a moment’s thought, he cautiously returned to the original location of Tianyang Cave Abode.
qǐ tú kàn kàn ， shì fǒu hái yǒu shén me bǎo bèi zài gāng gāng de dà zhàn zhōng cán cún xià lái 。
企图看看，是否还有什么宝贝在刚刚的大战中残存下来。
He wanted to see if there were any treasures left from the fierce battle that had just taken place.
kě shì ， chá tàn le xǔ jiǔ ， chú le sì yì liú tǎng de róng yán zhī wài ， qí tā shén me yě méi shèng xià le 。
可是，查探了许久，除了肆意流淌的熔岩之外，其他什么也没剩下了。
But after probing for a long time, all that remained were the flowing lava.
àn dào yī shēng kě xī hòu ， lǐ fán biàn bù zài dòu liú ， qǐ chéng fǎn huí wàn xiān dǎo 。
暗道一声可惜后，李凡便不再逗留，启程返回万仙岛。
With a sigh of regret, Li Fan left and set off back to Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
“ yě bù zhī nà tiān yáng kuǐ lěi hé nà míng huà shén dà néng ， qù le hé chù zhàn dòu 。 zuì zhōng jié guǒ yòu shì shuí shèng shuí fù 。”
“也不知那天阳傀儡和那名化神大能，去了何处战斗。最终结果又是谁胜谁负。”
"I wonder where that Tianyang puppet and that divine transformation cultivator went. Who won in the end?"
“ xiǎng lái shàng yī shì ， jiù shì gēn jīn rì zhè bān ， tiān yáng kuǐ lěi chū shì hòu ， yǐn lái huà shén dà néng 。 zuì zhōng yī fān dà zhàn hòu ， zhǐ liú xià yī piàn fèi xū 。”
“想来上一世，就是跟今日这般，天阳傀儡出世后，引来化神大能。最终一番大战后，只留下一片废墟。”
"Back then, it was just like today; when the Tianyang puppet appeared, it attracted divine transformation cultivators. After a great battle, only ruins remained."
“ zhè shì qiān chě de céng cì tài gāo ， jiù suàn xià yī shì ， kǒng pà wǒ yě nán yǐ cóng zhōng móu lì 。”
“这事牵扯的层次太高，就算下一世，恐怕我也难以从中谋利。”
"This matter involves too many layers for me to gain any benefit even if I were reborn next time."
“ hái shì xiān duǒ zhe ba 。”
“还是先躲着吧。”
"I should just stay hidden."
“ shàng gǔ shēn huà dào ， yě bù zhī shì shén me zōng mén 。 huí qù hòu kě yǐ chá tàn yī fān 。”
“上古身化道，也不知是什么宗门。回去后可以查探一番。”
"The ancient body transformation path—what sect is that? I can investigate after returning."
“ hǎo zài cǐ xíng dào yě bú shì wán quán méi yǒu shōu huò 。”
“好在此行倒也不是完全没有收获。”
"Still, this trip wasn't entirely without收获."
xiǎng qǐ le chǔ wù jiè zhōng de yí hái cán zhā ， lǐ fán xīn zhōng duō shǎo yǒu le xiē ān wèi 。
想起了储物戒中的遗骸残渣，李凡心中多少有了些安慰。
Thinking of the remains in his storage ring, Li Fan felt somewhat comforted.
“ zhǐ shì bù zhī ， dào dǐ néng bù néng fù xiàn chū 《 zuò shān jué 》 lái 。”
“只是不知，到底能不能复现出《坐山诀》来。”
"But I wonder if I can resurrect The Sitting Mountain Technique from them."
yī lù sī xù fán zá ， lǐ fán huí dào le wàn xiān dǎo 。
一路思绪繁杂，李凡回到了万仙岛。
Thoughts swirling, Li Fan returned to Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
tiān yáng dòng fǔ suǒ zài zhī dì ， fā shēng le yī cháng jīng tiān dà zhàn 。
天阳洞府所在之地，发生了一场惊天大战。
A great battle had taken place at the location of Tianyang Cave Abode.
xiāo xī xiǎn rán yǐ jīng zhuàn le huí lái ， suí chù kě jiàn xiū shì men zài tǎo lùn cǐ shì 。
消息显然已经传了回来，随处可见修士们在讨论此事。
The news had clearly spread back, and many cultivators were discussing it everywhere.
dàn dào dǐ fā shēng le shén me ， nà jù dǐng tiān lì dì de kuǐ lěi jiū jìng shì zěn me chū xiàn de ， què shì wú yī rén zhī xiǎo 。
但到底发生了什么，那具顶天立地的傀儡究竟是怎么出现的，却是无一人知晓。
But no one knew what exactly happened or how that towering puppet appeared.
zhòng shuō fēn yún 。
众说纷纭。
Speculations ran rampant.
lǐ fán zì shì bú huì zhǔ dòng qù gào zhī 。
李凡自是不会主动去告之。
Li Fan wouldn't go out of his way to inform anyone.
zhǐ shì zài yǔ zhè xiē bù duàn jiāo tán de xiū shì cā jiān ér guò de shí hòu ， tā què hū rán xiǎng dào le shén me ， jiǎo bù hū rán tíng le xià lái 。
只是在与这些不断交谈的修士擦肩而过的时候，他却忽然想到了什么，脚步忽然停了下来。
However, as he passed by these constantly chatting cultivators, he suddenly thought of something and stopped in his tracks.
“ cóng jīn rì de dòng jìng lái kàn ， dà néng xiū shì zhī jiān jiāo zhàn ， pò huài lì jīng rén 。 dòng zhé biàn jiāng yī piàn hǎi yù huǐ miè 。”
“从今日的动静来看，大能修士之间交战，破坏力惊人。动辄便将一片海域毁灭。”
"Judging from today's events, the battle between great cultivators is devastating. An entire sea can be destroyed with a single clash."
“ yí dàn jiāo zhàn ， bì rán yǐn rén zhù mù 。 shì hòu yě yīng gāi jīn jīn lè dào ， bǐ cǐ jiāo tán jiān huì bèi ǒu rán tán qǐ cái shì 。”
“一旦交战，必然引人注目。事后也应该津津乐道，彼此交谈间会被偶然谈起才是。”
"After such a battle, it would surely attract attention. The participants might casually mention it to each other during their conversations."
“ hái yǒu ， cǐ fāng tiān dì duì xiū shì de è yì yì zhí cún zài 。 zài chì yán fén hǎi zhī qián ， bì dìng céng jīng fā shēng guò zhǒng zhǒng zāi è 。 dàn ……”
“还有，此方天地对修士的恶意一直存在。在赤炎焚海之前，必定曾经发生过种种灾厄。但……”
"And this realm has always harbored malice towards cultivators. Before the Crimson Flame Burned the Sea, countless disasters must have occurred here. But..."
“ wú lùn shì shàng yī shì ， hái shì zhè yī shì 。 xiū shì men jiāo tán jiān ， què jī hū cóng bù zhǔ dòng tí qǐ lèi sì zhī shì 。”
“无论是上一世，还是这一世。修士们交谈间，却几乎从不主动提起类似之事。”
"Regardless of whether in my past life or this one, when cultivators talk, they never bring up such matters proactively."
lǐ fán shàng yī shì xiū xíng de jǐ nián jiān ， yě céng hé zhòng duō liàn qì xiū shì jiāo liú guò 。 dàn shì tā men shǐ zhōng cóng lái méi yǒu tí jí guò ， cóng yún hǎi yǐ qián céng jīng fā shēng guò de dà xíng zāi nàn shì gù 。
李凡上一世修行的几年间，也曾和众多炼气修士交流过。但是他们始终从来没有提及过，丛云海以前曾经发生过的大型灾难事故。
During his few years of cultivation in the past life, he had spoken with many qi condensation cultivators, but none of them ever mentioned any large-scale disasters that happened in Cunyun Sea.
zhè yě ràng lǐ fán chǎn shēng le mǒu zhǒng sī wéi shàng de quē shī 。
这也让李凡产生了某种思维上的缺失。
This left Li Fan with a mental gap.
yǐ zhì yú dāng zhāng hào bō duì tā tí jí kě néng yǒu zāi huò lái lín shí ， tā yě méi zěn me fàng zài xīn shàng 。
以致于当张浩波对他提及可能有灾祸来临时，他也没怎么放在心上。
Thus, when Zhang Haobo mentioned possible impending calamities, he didn't take it seriously.
yīn wèi ， zài lǐ fán de rèn zhī zhōng 。 ruò shì mǒu dì jīng cháng fā shēng zāi nàn ， gāi dì jū mín zuì qǐ mǎ ǒu ěr huì zài yán yǔ jiān tí qǐ ； dāng yǒu wài lái rén shí ， yě yīng dāng huì zuò chū jǐng shì 。
因为，在李凡的认知中。若是某地经常发生灾难，该地居民最起码偶尔会在言语间提起；当有外来人时，也应当会做出警示。
In his mind, if a place frequently suffered disasters, the residents would at least occasionally mention it; visitors should be warned about such dangers.
jì rán yī zhòng xiū shì men ， cóng lái méi yǒu shuō guò yǒu shén me zāi è xū yào tè bié zhù yì de 。
既然一众修士们，从来没有说过有什么灾厄需要特别注意的。
Since no one had ever spoken of any specific disaster that needed special attention,
nà me ， xiǎng lái jiù suàn yǒu shén me zāi nàn ， yīng gāi yě bú huì shì shén me tè bié zhòng dà de shì 。
那么，想来就算有什么灾难，应该也不会是什么特别重大的事。
Li Fan concluded that whatever happened wasn't likely to be anything major.
suǒ yǐ ， shàng yī shì ， tā jǐn jǐn shì hòu lái xún wèn le yī fān tiān xuán jìng ， dé dào le fǒu dìng de huí dá zhī hòu ， biàn bù zěn me guān zhù le 。
所以，上一世，他仅仅是后来询问了一番天玄镜，得到了否定的回答之后，便不怎么关注了。
So in his past life, he only paid attention after asking Tianyang Mirror and receiving a negative response.
xiàn zài xiǎng xiǎng ， chì yán fén hǎi ， zhēn de shì cóng yún hǎi dì yī cì zāo yù tiān dì bù xià de shā jī me ？
现在想想，赤炎焚海，真的是丛云海第一次遭遇天地布下的杀机么？
Now thinking back, was the Crimson Flame Burned the Sea truly the first time Cunyun Sea faced the heavens' trap?
kǒng pà bù rán 。
恐怕不然。
Probably not.
fán shì dōu yǒu gè xún xù jiàn jìn de guò chéng 。
凡事都有个循序渐进的过程。
Everything happens gradually.
tiān dì duì xiū shì yǒu è yì 。
天地对修士有恶意。
The heavens have malice towards cultivators. As more and more cultivators accumulated in Cunyun Sea with their cultivation levels increasing,
dāng cóng yún hǎi nèi ， xiū shì de shù liàng zhú jiàn zēng duō ， xiū wèi yě yuè lái yuè gāo de shí hòu 。
当丛云海内，修士的数量逐渐增多，修为也越来越高的时候。
traps would be set to eliminate them.
jiù huì bù xià shā jī ， jìn xíng qīng chú 。
就会布下杀机，进行清除。
At first, they might just be small disasters.
yī kāi shǐ ， yīng dāng zhǐ shì xiē xiǎo xíng de zāi è 。
一开始，应当只是些小型的灾厄。
Until the number of cultivators reached a limit, the final elimination plan would begin.
zhí dào zuì hòu ， xiū shì shù liàng dào dá yí gè jí xiàn hòu ， cái huì fā dòng zuì zhōng de qīng chú jì huà 。
直到最后，修士数量到达一个极限后，才会发动最终的清除计划。
The Heavens' Essence would appear and exterminate all life.
tiān dì zhī pò chū xiàn ， miè shā yī qiè shēng líng 。
天地之魄出现，灭杀一切生灵。
Li Fan deduced this because Cunyun Sea's Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance had already grown so large.
zhī suǒ yǐ lǐ fán zhè me tuī duàn ， shì yīn wèi cóng yún hǎi wàn xiān méng ， bì jìng yǐ jīng fā zhǎn dào zhè me dà de guī mó le 。
之所以李凡这么推断，是因为丛云海万仙盟，毕竟已经发展到这么大的规模了。
Wouldn't the heavens deliberately wait for cultivators to strengthen themselves before striking?
tiān dì de shā yì huì tè yì yǐn rěn ， zuò děng xiū shì zhuàng dà ， mò mò bù dòng ？
天地的杀意会特意隐忍，坐等修士壮大，默默不动？
Until they could no longer bear it, unleashing a thunderous blow?
zhí dào shí zài shòu bù liǎo le ， cái fā dòng léi tíng yī jī ？
直到实在受不了了，才发动雷霆一击？
Based on Li Fan’s understanding of the heavens' malice, that wouldn’t happen.
yǐ lǐ fán duì tiān dì shā jī de lǐng wù ， hěn xiǎn rán bú huì zhè yàng 。
以李凡对天地杀机的领悟，很显然不会这样。
Heavens' malice would persist as long as there were cultivators.
tiān dì shā jī ， zhǐ yào yǒu xiū shì ， biàn yì zhí huì cún zài 。
天地杀机，只要有修士，便一直会存在。
Thus, disasters must have occurred continuously over the years.
yě jiù shì shuō ， guò wǎng de suì yuè zhōng ， zāi è kěn dìng shì yì zhí lù lù xù xù cún zài de 。
也就是说，过往的岁月中，灾厄肯定是一直陆陆续续存在的。
So what caused all the cultivators to remain silent about these disasters?
nà me ， dào dǐ shì shén me ， dǎo zhì le suǒ yǒu xiū shì dōu bù bì kǒu bù tí ， zhè zhǒng zhǒng zāi è ne ？
那么，到底是什么，导致了所有修士都不闭口不提，这种种灾厄呢？
"Was it because they actively avoided mentioning them..."
“ shì zhǔ dòng bì miǎn qù tí jí ， hái shì ……”
“是主动避免去提及，还是……”
"...or were they... forgotten?"
“ bèi … yí wàng le ？”
“被…遗忘了？”
Li Fan immediately returned to Tianyang Mirror and searched for key terms: historical events where many cultivators died or suffered heavily.
lǐ fán lì mǎ huí dào tiān xuán jìng zhōng ， sōu suǒ guān jiàn zì 。
李凡立马回到天玄镜中，搜索关键字。
The results made Li Fan's spine shiver with cold sweat.
lì shǐ shàng ， céng jīng fā shēng guò de ， xiū shì sǐ shāng cǎn zhòng de ， zāi è shì jiàn 。
历史上，曾经发生过的，修士死伤惨重的，灾厄事件。
Nothing.
jié guǒ ràng lǐ fán bèi jǐ lěng hàn zhí liú 。
结果让李凡背脊冷汗直流。
Nothing.
wú 。
无。
No matter how he searched, the Tianyang Mirror showed no results.
wú 。
无。
After a while, Li Fan calmed down and took out his communication spirit token to ask Yuwen Xing.
……
……
But it left him chilled.
wú lùn lǐ fán zěn me qù sōu suǒ ， tiān xuán jìng shǐ zhōng méi yǒu rèn hé jié guǒ xiǎn shì chū lái 。
无论李凡怎么去搜索，天玄镜始终没有任何结果显示出来。
Yuwen Xing initially denied everything.
guò le huì ， lǐ fán lěng jìng xià lái ， tāo chū tōng xùn líng fú ， xún wèn qǐ le yǔ wén xīng 。
过了会，李凡冷静下来，掏出通讯灵符，询问起了宇文星。
Only after repeated questioning did he vaguely recall something might have happened.
jié guǒ ràng lǐ fán xīn zhōng yī hán 。
结果让李凡心中一寒。
But it wasn't important; he couldn't remember now.
yǔ wén xīng xiān shì yī kǒu fǒu rèn 。
宇文星先是一口否认。
Li Fan then asked other slightly older cultivators outside.
suí hòu zài lǐ fán zài sān de zhuī wèn xià ， cái mí mí hū hū ， shuō shì hǎo xiàng céng jīng fā shēng guò mǒu xiē shì 。
随后在李凡再三的追问下，才迷迷糊糊，说是好像曾经发生过某些事。
They were surprised why Li Fan would ask such questions, but their answers all matched Yuwen Xing's: it seemed to happen, but they couldn’t remember.
dàn fǎn zhèng yě bù tài zhòng yào ， yǐ jīng jì bù qīng le 。
但反正也不太重要，已经记不清了。
...
lǐ fán yòu wài chū xún wèn le qí tā jǐ wèi nián jì shāo zhǎng de xiū shì 。
李凡又外出询问了其他几位年纪稍长的修士。
Silent, Li Fan pondered.
tā men hěn shì chà yì wèi shén me lǐ fán huì wèn zhè zhǒng wèn tí ， dàn zuì hòu de dá àn ， quán dōu gēn yǔ wén xīng yī yàng 。
他们很是诧异为什么李凡会问这种问题，但最后的答案，全都跟宇文星一样。
Forgetting?
hǎo xiàng shì fā shēng guò 。
好像是发生过。
Could base-level cultivators be so forgetful?
dàn jì bù qīng le 。
但记不清了。
Li Fan recalled the first time he encountered a windstorm on Luyu Island. The island’s common people would tell him about the larger storm that occurred over a decade ago.
……
……
Cultivators were inferior to ordinary people?
lǐ fán chén mò le 。
李凡沉默了。
Remembering disasters made one more cautious, making it easier to survive in future calamities.
jì bù qīng ？
记不清？
This was logical.
zhù jī xiū shì huì zhè me jiàn wàng ？
筑基修士会这么健忘？
But now, this logic had been reversed.
Zhang Haobo smiled bitterly and was about to say something when he suddenly stopped.
A moment later, he spoke again: "Still don't know your name. I can't forget the life-saving favor you did for me today. There will surely be a great reward in return!"
Li Fan smiled but didn't answer. He merely bowed slightly: "If we meet again, you'll know."
"See you later!"
Before he could finish speaking, his figure turned into a thin line and disappeared far away.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from Zhang Haobo's sight.
Zhang Haobo narrowed his eyes: "Such a fast speed. That unknown divine technique is also formidable; it even left me with no resistance at all. Mysterious and secretive, I wonder what identity he truly has."
After a while, he sighed and thought to himself: "Too bad, even if he has many secrets, it makes no difference."
Zhang Haobo looked up at the sky: "The heavens have long set traps for us. The countless lives in Cunyun Sea, regardless of their cultivation level or whether they are triumphant or defeated, are already destined to die."
"That crimson figure that burned the sea...
"Even a divine transformation cultivator is so powerful; can it really defeat Him?"
Zhang Haobo fell into confusion.
However, after a moment, his gaze became more resolute.
"No matter what, I must do my utmost to stop Him."
His aura reformed and solidified. He took one last look at the ruins before flying away.
Not long after Zhang Haobo left, Li Fan's hidden figure suddenly appeared again.
"It seems he didn't lose his resolve because of this; I was too cautious." Li Fan nodded.
After a moment’s thought, he cautiously returned to the original location of Tianyang Cave Abode.
He wanted to see if there were any treasures left from the fierce battle that had just taken place.
But after probing for a long time, all that remained were the flowing lava.
With a sigh of regret, Li Fan left and set off back to Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
"I wonder where that Tianyang puppet and that divine transformation cultivator went. Who won in the end?"
"Back then, it was just like today; when the Tianyang puppet appeared, it attracted divine transformation cultivators. After a great battle, only ruins remained."
"This matter involves too many layers for me to gain any benefit even if I were reborn next time."
"I should just stay hidden."
"The ancient body transformation path—what sect is that? I can investigate after returning."
"Still, this trip wasn't entirely without收获."
Thinking of the remains in his storage ring, Li Fan felt somewhat comforted.
"But I wonder if I can resurrect The Sitting Mountain Technique from them."
Thoughts swirling, Li Fan returned to Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
A great battle had taken place at the location of Tianyang Cave Abode.
The news had clearly spread back, and many cultivators were discussing it everywhere.
But no one knew what exactly happened or how that towering puppet appeared.
Speculations ran rampant.
Li Fan wouldn't go out of his way to inform anyone.
However, as he passed by these constantly chatting cultivators, he suddenly thought of something and stopped in his tracks.
"Judging from today's events, the battle between great cultivators is devastating. An entire sea can be destroyed with a single clash."
"After such a battle, it would surely attract attention. The participants might casually mention it to each other during their conversations."
"And this realm has always harbored malice towards cultivators. Before the Crimson Flame Burned the Sea, countless disasters must have occurred here. But..."
"Regardless of whether in my past life or this one, when cultivators talk, they never bring up such matters proactively."
During his few years of cultivation in the past life, he had spoken with many qi condensation cultivators, but none of them ever mentioned any large-scale disasters that happened in Cunyun Sea.
This left Li Fan with a mental gap.
Thus, when Zhang Haobo mentioned possible impending calamities, he didn't take it seriously.
In his mind, if a place frequently suffered disasters, the residents would at least occasionally mention it; visitors should be warned about such dangers.
Since no one had ever spoken of any specific disaster that needed special attention,
Li Fan concluded that whatever happened wasn't likely to be anything major.
So in his past life, he only paid attention after asking Tianyang Mirror and receiving a negative response.
Now thinking back, was the Crimson Flame Burned the Sea truly the first time Cunyun Sea faced the heavens' trap?
Probably not.
Everything happens gradually.
The heavens have malice towards cultivators. As more and more cultivators accumulated in Cunyun Sea with their cultivation levels increasing,
traps would be set to eliminate them.
At first, they might just be small disasters.
Until the number of cultivators reached a limit, the final elimination plan would begin.
The Heavens' Essence would appear and exterminate all life.
Li Fan deduced this because Cunyun Sea's Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance had already grown so large.
Wouldn't the heavens deliberately wait for cultivators to strengthen themselves before striking?
Until they could no longer bear it, unleashing a thunderous blow?
Based on Li Fan’s understanding of the heavens' malice, that wouldn’t happen.
Heavens' malice would persist as long as there were cultivators.
Thus, disasters must have occurred continuously over the years.
So what caused all the cultivators to remain silent about these disasters?
"Was it because they actively avoided mentioning them..."
"...or were they... forgotten?"
Li Fan immediately returned to Tianyang Mirror and searched for key terms: historical events where many cultivators died or suffered heavily.
The results made Li Fan's spine shiver with cold sweat.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
...
No matter how he searched, the Tianyang Mirror showed no results.
After a while, Li Fan calmed down and took out his communication spirit token to ask Yuwen Xing.
But it left him chilled.
Yuwen Xing initially denied everything.
Only after repeated questioning did he vaguely recall something might have happened.
But it wasn't important; he couldn't remember now.
Li Fan then asked other slightly older cultivators outside.
They were surprised why Li Fan would ask such questions, but their answers all matched Yuwen Xing's: it seemed to happen, but they couldn’t remember.
...
Silent, Li Fan pondered.
Forgetting?
Could base-level cultivators be so forgetful?
Li Fan recalled the first time he encountered a windstorm on Luyu Island. The island’s common people would tell him about the larger storm that occurred over a decade ago.
Cultivators were inferior to ordinary people?
Remembering disasters made one more cautious, making it easier to survive in future calamities.
This was logical.
But now, this logic had been reversed.